Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1887-06-17

q llD-utUIiOMl HlkutHt tlcNcu.
Mrs. Dennis acQuiosced.
g To-morrow night et elcven, I'll bo
waiting at the corner OF tho street wid
cloaknnd a big market basket, an I'll SEQ
that Chatlin's there nforo u5."
{ Thancst afternoon. Just Us tho wintry
twilight was fading Into tho black. In
distlnguislabl0 dusk. Mrs. Doutiss skin.
fully propelled tho slcndcr cst-ilkc
!lgure OF little Charlie through, thu hnr-
row iron bars Of the stalrcrnso-wlndpw.
Sho wis Just In time, for as sho
stopped again to poke In tho depths of
IN old ush-harrcl With her Hell-worn
iron hook policeman lounged round
the corner OF tho house.
Halo, old womanl What gro you
doing hcroy" = z
An is lt tholcln,lcrs sc'd grudge
MOI" whined Mira. Dennls. tam tho, ilrc
going out on tho henrth,stonc. Wild tho
an its linrI lines for poor folks, SO II
Is. and Mickey Mcaargnn, mo husband.
that ia" 90
well. we'll, you needn't mako ouch
noise shout !" deprecated tho police.
man strldiny on.
And Mrs. Dennis smiled ,stcalthlly
under her ragged rcd hood.
Meanwhile, Charlie. obcdicnt to
ordcrs. curlcd hllnsolf up under Tho
S.aitWusy. nmlu u iot OL TN nutI-tuOS,
disused furniture, and inrnlided sauce.
pms, and went composcdly to sleep.
How long ho Ind slept lio did not
know. but tho narrow stairway was
lighted up by tho glaro OF u candle
when he woke, and Il hund was on the
ragged lnpnls OF his coat.
"Why, hlcss me, It's q child I" lS
Nonsense, Nancy; it's only The cat !"
"Itcll you IT'S child, and ho'snslcep."
Another figure advanced into the
yellow circle Of ilickerlnR light thrown
woman, With q something In hor fnco
thnt made Charities heart stnnd still.
and brought the long dlsuscd word
mamma" involuntariiy to his lips.
How on curtl came you here, littlo
boy:" shc nskcd. little less astonishod
than her companion had been.
Charlie glanced furtivcly about tho
room, In vain search for II loopholc OF
escape; but there was none, nn,I Charlio
had no idcn OF sacrificing himself for
tho snkcs OF Mother Dennis and Mike.
"Mrs. Dennis pnt mo through tho
Window" no whispered. "nnd sho and
Mike aro coming at eleven O'Clock TO
stcnl the spoons and things, nnd Tn
to unbolt tho front door for 'eni; and
plcnso nn'am, mover did such a thlng
before, and I'm 80 cold. and, nii,l---"
Charlie wound up his explanatory
speech with burst of very genuine
tears. and screwed his littlo knucklcs
tightly into his round blue eyes.
Ny goodness gracious !" calculated
tho older lady.
Bless US and snvo usr shrlekcd
tho younger.
"1rs a planned burglary" sald Miss
| Nancy.
Send someone for tho police y!
screamed Miss Bclscy hystcricnlly.
| t Yes" sobbol little Charlie, enter
Ling heart and soul Into tho new cause /;
'sgSt, a policeman to stand buck, o tho
il nothin' had> happened. And, oh, don't
yol, give mo up ~ em. pleasc-plcnso,
lady, or they'll beat mo 70 death MI sell
me 10 the doctors nfterwaf6s! .
Don't l,c afraid, my little fellow,
said Miss Nancy, who lind been vine
soino orders in n hurried whisper t6eSu
grizzlcd old seryant-maid who had stood
staring IN tho background. .Cono with
No one shall harm you."
Sho led tho sobLing, shrinking llttlt
urclin into q coscy parlor, wlinr0 iii,
crimson carpet md curtains seemed t.
reflect ruddy lights froin tho glowing
sra-coal lire. nil,l tho chandelier diffusct
u shaded lilstrc through tho room.
The walls wcru hung with sobcrly
tintrdold fnmily portraits, which secmc,
to stare down upon the bewil,lercd chile
with eyes OF rcproach mud curiosity.
..scc Nancy! he Is really pretty" snid
Miss Betscy. smoothing down tho tnnglcd
curly lIuir ns slo led him. 10 tho fire
"An,l only SEQ what bluS eyes ho has
Poor littlo SOUL and SO young, too-n
nero babyi What IL your name, childi'
(" Chnric!
Chnrio what?"
But the child shook his head.
"Only Charlie--and mammals nnmo
was phpbe!"
At that instant. In his restless motiohe
around. tho little fellow caught sight 81
portrait hanging In recess, hitherto
obscurcd from his gaze. Ho uttered d
Mamma THAT is Charlie's own
mammal
/" Gracious goodness r. exclaimed Miss
Nancy. trembling In every joint; what
does this child meanf That is our
Phpbcr'
"Itis mammal Mammals namo was
Ph9be and she had black hair lust
like thatand big black eyes"
And tho child, who Ind treasured up
that one Hover OF memory In his mind
40 y >~sSt ~ t3~ss W w. eShA - y
pitifully:
81 want my mammal !: they have
taken her away from moi Where is my
mamma?' 81 ~
Miss Botsey rose up; falo and solemn.
Nancy, IT'S voice from the grave I!
It's Ph1hc come back TO US. 10 put her
little ch,ld's hand in oursi Wo haze
searched for her In vain these flvo years.
now her orphan child has come straight
to US!
Don't you 500 Gods hand In It,
Eancy7 We edIsowned her, and sent her
away, because she would marry tho mai,
she loyed-wt never reIcnteI wien wc
heard She wnh left widow, but we
mourncd and soughS her long when 1t
was too lntep
Her voice was stifled by tcars, but
little Charlie was held Close close TO
her heart, The eoutcast bnbc-tho lttle
neglected. pnriah, had been led by tho
guiding hand Of ProyideDcc straight to
the home andth hearts that wcro walt
ing for him.
Tho policemen, summoned duly by old
Margery. arrived, and were put OH the
watch. And when tho basement door